This study was carried out to ascertain the physical and chemical properties of the hydromorphic soils of Birnin Kebbi Local Government area of Kebbi State with a view to offer appropriate recommendations for sustainable agricultural production in the area. The processed soil samples were analyzed following standard procedures. The soils were observed to be sandy loam in texture with particle size distributions of 61.3%, 24.2% and 14.5% for sand, silt and clay, respectively. They contained high organic carbon of 20.14gkg-1 but low nitrogen content of 0.049gkg-1. The overall mean value of phosphorous was 10.81gkg-1.. The obtained values for exchangeable bases such as Ca, Mg, K and Na were 1.94cmol (+)kg—1, 1. 8cmol(+)kg-1, 0.15cmol(+)kg-1 and 0.16cmol(+)kg-1, respectively. Exchangeable acidity (Latent) acidity was 1.82cmol (+)kg-1 while the actual acidity was discovered to be 6.9. Therefore, the overall mean CEC was 7.49cmol (+)kg-! with percentage base saturation of 53.32%. Again, based on all these, the hydromorphic soils of the study area could be classified as moderate in fertility an indication that there was moderate leaching of exchangeable bases in the area. The soils could be used for the production of agricultural crops under good management practices. High concentration of Na should be properly managed to avoid its further accumulation to toxic level (sodicity hazard).
Key words: Hydromorphic, soils, physical, chemical, characteristics.
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